In five words

Purify yourself in Lake Minnetonka.

What sound defines your city?

Minneapolis sounds like cars, buses, trucks and bikes all the time, especially during rush hour. Minneapolis is a busy city and everyone is seemingly on the go, though not in the pushy East Coast sense.

Everyone’s tuning into

Minnesota Public Radio’s syndicated show Prairie Home Companion is an institution. Garrison Keillor, the beloved storyteller and star of the radio program, will be retiring soon. The show, like many syndicated radio programs in the National Public Radio network from Car Talk to This American Life, portrays a slice of American life, specifically a slice of the Midwest – plenty utterances of “you betcha”.

Who’s top of the playlist?

“You were an ocean and I was far too deep,” Tiny Deaths singer, Claire de Lune sings. The song, upbeat and melancholic at once, is about being engulfed in love. The metaphor is infused in electric energy and sparse lyricism. As electronic pop band, Tiny Deaths occupy a very interesting, unique space in a city dominated by hip-hop acts.

Best local artist?

No rookie … Allegra Lockstadt. Photograph: Allegra Lockstadt

Born in Canada and raised down south, Rookie illustrator Allegra Lockstadt brings a perspective that has made her successful beyond Minneapolis. Her beautiful, warm and resonant art makes her not only a favorite of mine, but objectively one of the best.

What’s the big talking point?

In local media? ISIS. In the streets? Black Lives Matter. In the tweets? ISIS.

What your city does better than anyone …

Minneapolis can be a lovely place to pursue music. A lot of fledging bands – B.O.Y.F., Grrrl Prty – have members who’ve found success here they probably could not have found at home. Writer Becky Lang has written about this phenomenon for The Tangential. Minneapolis places precedence on engaging live shows rather than on albums, which allows artists to build their brand, make money and get known faster. This culture of live shows over albums, the social aspect over the actual music, makes Minneapolis a strategic and smart place to start a band.

Look on the street

There’s no uniform … street style blogger Amalia Nicholson

Collegiate girls often wear Northface jackets, leggings, yoga pants, Columbia Sportswear. Some have a crust punk, Diablo Cody-esque look: asymmetrical haircuts, septum piercings, bandanas worn around the neck for no real reason, ripped jorts, etc. If you go downtown, you’ll see a lot of suits. On the West Bank, where Somalis live — Minneapolis has one of the largest Somali populations in the diaspora— a lot of the young women wear outfits purchased at the local Somali mall and mocked in various #StarterKit memes on Twitter. There’s no uniform but everyone looks comfortable.

Best street style would have to be Amalia Nicholson, a plus size cutie who works as a producer for a marketing agency. Her style is chic, timeless and fun.

Best cultural Instagram?

Star Tribune Editor Tom Horgen has taken some of the most breathtaking photos of Minneapolis landscapes, events and people. His account, which has over 3k followers – a lot for a Minneapolis person who isn’t a musician – has made him quite notable.

Best current venue

The Cedar Cultural Center, pictured above, puts on the most intimate shows by acts from all over the world. Located smack bang in the most predominantly Somali neighborhood in Minneapolis, the venue has been a touchstone for communities that don’t have access to shows at bigger venues like First Avenue and the Varsity. The atmosphere is quaint, the vibe is definitely quieter, but the venue works for everything from traveling folk and country acts to local MCs.

Comedy gold

Moment from history

The greatest cultural moment was when Keith Ellison became the first Muslim Congressman in 2006. Controversially, he was sworn in on a Qur’an in January of the following year. Him, and the state as a whole, took a lot of sass from conservatives, especially Fox News, when it happened.

Best piece of street art?

I love this particular piece of street art because it represents the Corcoran-Powderhorn neighbourhood, which is where I live and vote! It’s one of the best neighborhoods in Minneapolis and I’m happy to see it on my morning commute every day.

From me

Safy-Hallan Farah is a writer whose first book, No New Friends, is due out before the end of the year.